Atlantic Union College - Minuteman Yearbook (South Lancaster, MA)

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Ng. Q 5 1 i all 'I ' -.1 r df! able, and attests more fully than any argument could, the practical value of a system which combines systematic physical labor with study in the routine of student life. The board of trustees has -made arrangements so that reasonable remuneration is made for such labor as is of value, so that students are thus by faithful industry, able materially to reduce their expenses at school. The benefit gained by the practical education in habits of regular, systematic in- dustry secured by this course is worth manyfold the mere pecuniary advantage to be gained thereafter. The constant attention required from the teachers for sixteen hours of each day, in order to carry out this plan, would seemingly be a heavy tax upon their strength, and yet it was the uniform testimony of the teachers that they iind their labor not more wearying under this system than under the old methods. Prof. Bell reports that he has endured theilabor of the present term thus far much better than he anticipated, and his interest and courage in the Work are increasing. But the chief feature of interest in the school, the one to my mind of more importance than all others, is the religious ,interest manifested among the pupils: and that, too, without any special effort to create a religious excite- ment, but coming, rather, as an outgrowth of the constant effort to impress upon the students the idea that a truly religious life is the point to which all education and discipline should tend. The regular Bible lessons of each day in which all the pupils join, have a marked influence in molding the character of the school in this direction. The morning and evening prayers, at which all kneel. whether professors of religion or not, the familiar talks with the students concerning the importance of devoting the life to the service of God, the evident faith of the teachers, freely expressed, that the pupils under their charge will, under the favorable surroundings, yield themselves to this service,-all these influences, working in harmony with the Spirit of God, have resulted in the awakening of a deep religious interest most gratifying to witness. This has manifested itself, not only in an increased earnestness on the part of those already making a profession of religion, but among those who came there unconverted, some of the students having recently made a profession of religion for the first time. On Sunday, Cct. 8, nine were baptized by Elder Robinson. The students all attend the regular weekly prayer-meeting of the church, and are all members of the Sabbath-school, in which there seems to be an excellent interest. Altogether, one is strongly impressed that what has been done could not have been accomplished without the signal blessings of God. His special blessing l most assuredly believe, has rested upon the effort put forth here to carry out the instruction which the Lord has seen fit to give upon the subject of education, and so long as these principles are carried out we shall look for a continuance of the prosperity that has thus far attended the school. Never has my heart been so impressed with the possibilities for usefulness before the youth, if they will devote their lives to the service of God, or with a sense of the willingness of God to bless and help them in the work, as while witnessing what I have seen of the work of the Spirit of God on the hearts of these students. l felt that the experience of the week was a valuable one to me. I thank God that in his providence such a school has been established, and l can but hope that the time is not far distant when other schools of like character shall be established among our people. 15

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.Q 1 Q Q.. . ., gt Vllilliifo Stboirjy off fbLfll.aunitf:iiio Uiiiiicoin fiollllego lt was at a meeting of the New England Tract and Nlissionary Society early in the year l88Z, that the idea of a missionary training school in the East was conceived. Our denomination then had only two colleges, Battle Creek College in Michigan and one at Healdsburg, California. These godly men who bore a burden. for the progress of the gospel, saw that they were too far away for most of the young people of New England to enter, and by faith they started a preparatory school. Elder S. N. Haskell, D, A. Robinson, and Miss Maria Huntley comprised the Hrst board. The first term began April l9, l882, with eighteen students present, and by the end of the term twenty-four were enrolled. Professor Good- loe Harper Bell came from Battle Creek College to teach the higher grades and Miss Edith Sprague to teach the lower. The school was held in what had been a carriage shop owned by Elder S. N. Haskell and later used as the village church. Becoming too small for that, it was then moved to Main Street and used as the Tract Society Office. A room upstairs served as the school room. Students attended from New Hamp- shire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Some of these were Elder 0. O. Earnsworth and his wife, who was then Miss Carrie Mace, Joseph Mace, H. B. Tucker, William Wieston, Otis Thayer and Miss Ella Graham, who is now the wife of Elder E. C. Gilbert. Carrie Mace was the first foreign mis- sionary to be sent from this school. At the close of the first day of school a meeting was called by the students, O. Q. Earnsworth acting as chairman. At this meeting they adopted some resolutions beginning: Vsfhereas, a school has been opened in South Lancaster among Seventh-day Adventists, and whereas, it has required sacrifice on the part of its founders to start the enterprise, and will require still more to carry it on successfully, therefore-. The students went on to ask for one acre of land, which the boys agreed to work free of charge and donate the proceeds to the school. The girls resolved to do their part by laundering and mending free of charge the clothes of all the boys who worked the acre of land. At the close of the first term SlO82.3l had been spent and only 3241.04 received from students. But the faith of Elder Haskell and the school board did not waver. They made a success of a small beginning. Eor the second term the Tract Society oflice was moved and attached to a dwelling house. The house was used as a girls' home and the old oflice served as a dining room. The boys boarded in another house. During that term Miss Eannie Dickerson, later editor of the Yot1I'h's Instructor, entered as a pupil. The classes were conducted in the new church, for they had outgrown that little upper room. lt was interesting to note that that carriage house be- came a church, tract society office, session room of school. dining room, and l7 A